RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 138, 5 March 1908, Page 9

RAILWAY EXTENSION.

PROCRESS IN THE NORTH. MR. BLOW INTERVIEWED. (BT TELEGKArII—SPECIAt. COtIRKSPONDEtrr.I Auckland, March 4. Mr. H. J.'H. Blow, Under-Secretary to tho Public Works Department, and Mr. J. A. Wilson, District Engineer to tho same Department, have returned to Auckland from a visit of inspection' to tho railway extension works in tho North of Auckland. The primary object of the trip was an inspection of tho • projected extension of the Kaihu Valley Railway,- but advantago was also taken of the opportunity of going over the works that aro now proceeding 011 tho Holensville Northward and Huherenui-Kawakawa. lines. '

1 Mr. Blow told an interviewer that the work On tbo Hclensvillo Northward line was being pushed forward as rapidly as possible; A difficulty was,'howover, being experienced in obtaining sufficient labour for the work. ■ "Nearly .200 men aro employed 011 this line, and we . would be able to take moro if. wo could get them," he said. "Wo pay at a rate that enables' men to earn tho rato for labour ruling in tho district, but men who aro able to do bush work find that they are able to earn much moro at the latter occupation.' Tho line has.already been opened to Taulioa for.'regular'{traffic. Tho next sectioa of four miles to Wayby is also finished, and is being used by tho Public "Works Department for the conveyance of goods and passengers. The section between Whyby and W-ollsford, another four miles, is also approaching completion, the rails having now been 1 laid to within half a mile of the Wcllsford Station. Tho platelaying will . probably bo completed to Wcllsford in about a fortnight, and when'the necessary ■ballasting has been done goods and. passengers will be carried over this section, and also beyond Wellsford to Tehana. . A further four miles of the lino is in hand at Tehaua, and tho lino will connect, with the navigable . waters of the Kaipara, where a wharf will be erected, and this will enable tho Port Albert settlers, wlnS aro at present isolated.to a largo extent,' Jo convey their produce by launch direct to tho railway,. and thus avoid tho • expense of extra handling." •.-■■■ In regard to tho agitation for a deviation of tho route of the extension of tho lino to Maungatiiroto, Mr.'Blow states that all possible information concerning tho rival routes was obtained.' Tho route has been definitely fixed as far as Pukekaroro. Beyond that 1 point a survey party is at work, and instructions liavo been given to .run two or three trial lines, one of which will be taken as closo to Paparoa as possible. When these trial , lines aro completed, ■ thoy will be carefully considered by the Department, and a selection made,, all circumstances,. including gradients, distance, cost,; and tho interests to, be served being taken into, acI count/ ' < . At Pukekaroro thero is a largo mountain of'good stone,. which .will bo available for -ballasting tho line, thus obviating the'necessity for continuing .the' presentcostly'method'of obtaining ballast from Auckland. The .Department will also 1 probably 'bo able to supply metal to tho local bodies at tho -lowest possible figure, and thus assist, to somo extent, in solving tho groat problem of transit. faciljties in the roadless North.' On-being asked whether tho current rearms '.vote for tne-lino would-bo. all expended by tho end of tho financial year,' Mr. Blow stated that thero would probably bo a small balance unexpended, but this was- duo to inability to obtain .sufficient labour'. On tho Hukerenui-Kawakawa '.' line the formation, work is completed nearly as far as Tcrsvhai. Twr, or threo : small bridges have'yet'to be, .erected, after which tho'laying of tho rails' will bo commenced. • At' tbo Kawakawa work is proceeding in tho direction of Ramarama. On.this' section,' also,' moro men would- be employed, if thoy were obtainable, i. 'At Kaihu, Mr. Blow and Mr. Wilson inspected thd.rputc of tlib proposed ; extension/, to Waima, a request ,for which has been made to tho by'the settlers'of th.j district. The distance between, Kaihu and Waima 'is;about : three' miles, -and the line over this section was partly constructed -bv the.company that; built' the Kaihu lino. • Tin sottler3 aro asking the Government to complete.: the section, : and' then" to invite terders for., tho purchaso of a largo area of tho timber lying on the watershed of the Waipoua, River, the successful - tenderer to construct a good tramway .from AVaima, to tho bush. A report on tho proposal will be prepared and submitted to tno Minister for '■Public Works. " ... ; .' .